With its switch to 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol for the 2007 season, the Indy Car Series is already leading in the country’s race to reducing dependence on foreign oil, as called for by President Bush in his State of the Union address. “The IndyCar Series shares the President’s commitment to energy security,” said Brian Barnhart, president and chief operating officer …
Domestic Fuel Industry Reaction
Some biofuel organizations were reacting to the president’s State of the Union address even before it was given. A statement from Renewable Fuels Association president Bob Dinneen was emailed to the media over two hours before the speech. “Recognizing the potential of our nation’s ethanol industry, President Bush used the unique forum of the State of the Union Address to …
President Calls For Increasing Alternative Fuel Supply
As anticipated, President George W. Bush devoted a significant portion of his 2007 State of the Union address Tuesday evening to energy. “For too long our nation has been dependent on foreign oil,” said President Bush. “It’s in our vital interest to diversify America’s energy supply. The way forward is through technology.” The audience applauded seven times during the four …
Terror-Free Fill-Up
The Terror-Free Oil Initiative is planning to open the nation’s first “terror free” gas station in Omaha. According to the Associated Press and numerous television news reports, the Terror-Free Oil station in west Omaha will sell gas from oil companies that do not do business in the Middle East. The station is scheduled to open in February and organization officials …
More Biofuels Education Needed
Despite the tremendous growth in ethanol and biodiesel production over the past year, consumers still lack a basic understanding of biofuels benefits and availability. That’s the findings of a just-released consumer survey commissioned by Pavilion Technologies and conducted by Harris Interactive. Despite a surge in production and government support, only a fraction of adult drivers in the United States (5%) …
Ethanol Offsets Increased Gas Use
America used more gasoline in 2006, but that increase was entirely offset by ethanol. According to the American Petroleum Institute’s December 2006 statistics report, gasoline deliveries in 2006 increased a modest 0.8 percent from 2005 to 9.2 million barrels, or 386 million gallons, per day. The year’s higher volume of gasoline deliveries was, in effect, met entirely by a substantial …
Smells Like Money
This week’s Associated Press Centerpiece report focuses on ethanol plants powered by manure and other waste material. Ranchers have long been fond of saying cattle manure smells like money. Now, folks in the business of making ethanol are smelling dollars too – in the methane gas emitted by manure at large cattle feedlots and dairies. The article looks at several …
Higher Corn and Lower Gas Prices Cut Ethanol Profits
Financial analysts are predicting dire times for the ethanol boom now that higher corn prices and lower gas prices are putting the squeeze on industry profits. A Reuters UK article quotes from a Credit Suisse report that predicts a lower completion rate for planned ethanol plant projects. “Back in July 2006, a new plant would have commanded returns in the …
ND Ethanol Plant to Run on Borrowed Steam
An ethanol plant under construction in North Dakota will be first plant in the country to use steam from a nearby power plant to generate heat instead of having its own boilers. Blue Flint Ethanol, a joint venture between Great River Energy and Headwaters Incorporated, is in the process of building a 50 million gallon per year dry mill ethanol …
Making Ethanol From Barley
Barley is another crop that has the potential to be part of the next generation of ethanol. North Dakota’s Farm and Ranch Guide reports that it was a topic at last week’s 2007 Dakota Grains Conference in Bismarck. Dr. Kevin Hicks, Agricultural Research Service, new hulless varieties and processing technologies such as pearling may make barley a desired crop for …